Some people knew Nina Kauffamn was going to be a tattoo artist before she did. Kauffman has been drawing for years, so a career change made sense.
Kauffamn, 19, had been in pursuit of a chemistry degree at UNT. At the time, she knew nothing about tattooing. After spending hours on Google, she found herself, a tattooless teenager, in a dark studio filled with large men covered in ink. She remembers how being in that predominantly male space was intimidating and discouraging. While there, she says she endured racist and sexist comments, but people dismissed her concerns.
The message was clear: if you can’t handle it, get out.
“In that environment, I felt scared all the time,” says Kauffman. “I don’t like being yelled at and they yelled a lot. There were a lot of times where I would go home and cry. There were times I wanted to quit, but I also knew that once I learned how to tattoo, it would be a lifelong skill that I could take with me.”
Kauffman now runs Golden Girl Tattoo Parlor, an inclusive, LGBTQ+ friendly shop on 805 N. Elm St. in Denton.
“It’s been the biggest relief,” says Kauffman. “I feel free to be myself and do whatever.”
One of Kauffman’s biggest grievances while working in other shops was seeing clients get judged for their tattoo choice.
She has an example: “Say a really masculine person wants a really feminine tattoo, but they are embarrassed to say this means this means a lot to me.” I would respond, “Hey. It’s your body. Whatever you want to get, I will help you with it.”
“When I say the shop is inclusive, I mean whoever you are, whatever you want,” she says. “Of course, there are boundaries, but, I want people to feel comfortable when they come in.”
Kauffman prioritizes the comfort of her clients. She believes the needle should be the only painful part of the process. To assist with the pain, she offers candy, toys, and clear communication.
“I talk them through the process. I let them know what I am doing before I do it,” says Kauffman. “You do have to touch people, so I think communication makes people feel more comfortable.”
While Kauffman was drawn to tattooing as a creative outlet, she also sees it as an act of service.
“My favorite part of tattooing is when the person looks in the mirror,” says Kauffman. “It makes me feel incredible. I love helping people feel better about their look. Whether I am covering a scar, helping the person memorialize something, or a silly tattoo. It makes people happy and I like making people happy.”
